:���V*�5b�R�q���O7�)�5�M��5em3����(R2�AW����=�N��X���p����;&�*� ?�懳ݰ��~���|̶� ��� ��S���`��o���S�}��2�����AZs��H�Q�>j(�?���n�����?�G��ED������]o�4{�j�g�R $�4�.q�7�O}�~��Q��a~�>�;�F4�fAu�>ȏz���U51��LJyh�N��th�s������3�)Y���t����G�ۿ�19[���I Tags: Consult safety data sheet (SDS) for all materials being processed in laser cutters. Register laser cutters on the appropriate groups’ BioRAFT equipment page. <> This is a pretty safe process under normal circumstances. that corrode the interior of the laser cutter. Like PolyStyrene, it melts, catches fire, and the melted drops continue to burn and turn into rock-hard drips and pebbles. Foam is used for suitcase inserts or padding, and for seals. ... Laser Cutting. B Many wowoods 1/4" Avoid oily/resinous woods relatively poor choice of colours. However, there may be a health risk where the welding takes place in confined spaces in which the welder's head is close to the welding operation, and where ventilation is restricted. When the DMS evaluates whether a material is suitable for use in our lasers, we typically look at four factors: WARNING: Because many plastics are dangerous to cut, it is important to know what kind you are planning to use. Make sure you leave lots of space between each component. Emits pure chlorine gas when cut! Of greater concern is exposure to hazardous fumes during hot gas welding of fluoropolymers such as PVDF, ECTFE, PFA and FEP, which can cause influenza-like symptoms known as "polymer fume fever". endobj 2 0 obj Hips has a tendency to heat up when being cut which can cause the sheet to melt and warp during the cutting process. Certain types of material should not be engraved or laser with a laser because of their chemical make-up. ABS, HDPE, polystyrene and polypropylene, and anything with poor thermal properties is going to ignite rather than cut cleanly. These devices can be used to cut, etch, engrave, or drill a variety of materials. The risk of fire is too high. The laser will be unfocused, won't cut properly and the material might catch fire. Polyethylene foils can be cut fast and precisely with laser systems. Surfaces near cut edges discolor badly. 3 0 obj comes mostly in thin sheets. The versatility of laser cutters is remarkable, considering they can cut, mark and etch. Follow the manufacturer’s documentation for safe use of laser cutters. The EPA says its "a suspected toxin" to the respiratory system etc. ; but its really hard to say how much styrene is actually burning during the laser cutting process and if that translates into a hazard. Polyethylene – Laser cutting of PE foils. Make has a How-To for identifying unknown plastics with a simple process. Many plastics also give off ultra fine particles, plus carcinogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. <>/ProcSet[/PDF/Text/ImageB/ImageC/ImageI] >>/Annots[ 9 0 R] /MediaBox[ 0 0 612.18 792] /Contents 4 0 R/Group<>/Tabs/S/StructParents 0>> Polymers vaporize quickly when cut with a laser beam, resulting in smooth edges with minimal heat affected zone. Follow the manufacturer’s documentation for safe use of laser cutters. It tends to melt rather than vaporize, and has a higher chance of catching on fire and leaving behind melted gooey deposits on the vector cutting grid. The Laser engraver /cutter machines here are of a design that does not mark or cut most metals. Due to contactless laser cutting, the PE foils will not be damaged. laser safe plastic laminates bamboo products cork felt ... polystyrene foam polypropylene foam ABS fiberglass HDPE/milk bottle plastic. Another fluoropolymer that can cause polymer fume fever when overheated is PTFE, which is used as a non-stick coating for hot plates that are used for welding other thermoplastics. The laser cutter high powered laser can cause damage to eyes and skin, and it must be contained within the cutter. PolyStyrene Foam or PolyPropylene Foam (not to be confused with EVA foam, which is laser safe) I hope this information about what is and isn’t safe to laser is helpful! stream Skin, Eyes and Lung Irritation Exposure to polystyrene dust as a result of cutting Styrofoam can result in skin, eye and lung irritation. Register laser cutters on the appropriate groups’ BioRAFT equipment page. not suitable for engraving. These points indicate that workers involved with laser cutting of plastics may potentially be exposed to unacceptable levels of hazardous substances. <>>> National Structural Integrity Research Centre, Granta Park, Great Abington, Cambridge, CB21 6AL, UK, Health and Safety for Cutting and Welding of Plastics. Subscribe to our newsletter to receive the latest news and events from TWI: Polypropylene, polyethylene and polycarbonate all generate benzene, a carcinogen, during laser cutting. i. Laser marking of polystyrene with a CO 2 laser is not recommended as a contrasting mark is not created. x��][o��~7��0��`�j�}=ص�� ���}���]_��ٜ����O'/���l�����gO7?�~���9۰�i�y����Gl�����޲�(憉��O�������Go��=����ذ=�;���=�O����w�U���eǺ��ݸ=��X�}�{"[���S�a�_�Ǐ��_ �������? “melty” raised edge if you’re not careful. SURVEY . ... Keep the laser cutting grid area clutter free by cleaning frequently. %PDF-1.5 4 0 obj Exposure to fumes given off during the hot gas welding of plastics such as PVC, nylon, PMMA, polycarbonate and polypropylene is not normally likely to give cause for concern. For examples of materials I love to use, check out my list of favorite things, including materials and some places to buy them! For metal based foams, a Fiber laser is most effective. Laser cutting of fluoropolymers should be the subject of a rigorous risk assessment. Ceramic based foam is not usually cut with a laser because it is very brittle and can crack. Polystyrene foam Catches fire This is the #1 cause of laser fires! Laser cutters use a powerful laser for precise cutting and engraving. ii. answer choices . In addition, the filters that are commonly used to clean up the fumes that originate from laser cutting of metals will not remove the fumes produced from plastics. See more on cut widths and Kerf (how much the laser takes away.) Laser cutting of polystyrene can be performed with a 9.3 or 10.6 micron CO 2 laser, resulting a clean, smooth, slightly melted cut edge, free of discoloration. Many plastics also give off ultra fine particles, plus carcinogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Polystyrene releases styrene, while PVC emits hydrogen chloride. Producing the same gasses that were used in gas chambers seems pretty darn dangerous and like there should be red flags up everywhere. Polystyrene releases styrene, while PVC emits hydrogen chloride. ... We courier your laser cutting daily to Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne, Newcastle, Canberra and beyond. iii. ۉFx�׻'���;�鍕�u~@3,�@w�Qn���됎��s� ����e��W탧�����>��RY�(�>��0��W���9H@f!�j�Í��T���ϹEADd�8oO��mچ����ٛm��S��a����Ђ6XԳ�wM�7�� � ��Yz����ѻ?j��`��7� B.֬�?��� ��?n�$�h�i ucՔ��]�4�:�V��d���.o�/ౕ�㍴8ze�Q� ��{���&P7��o��8��/m�qh���۫_셍#06�V �� ?���|��7�4���ɤ�4���1��%��fיPN̙BCa� Ą��ȋm�*y���K3��)� ޘ��p�T����nWr. Polystyrene Cutting Example Marking Example Name Also Known As Type Laser Wavelength General Cut Quality General Mark Quality Barcode Mark Successful Safety Polystyrene Thermoplastic 10.6 µm nFair-good: Moderate melt & residue nFair-good: Engrave marks with some melt-back nNo Cut very poorly, ... it melts, and only thin pieces cut. Tags: Question 8 . Foams made of polyester (PES), polyethylene (PE) or polyurethane (PUR) are well suited for laser cutting, laser engraving and laser marking. The cutting and marking of polystyrene (PS) with CO 2 laser systems is characterised by its high precision and flexibility. It catches fire quickly, burns rapidly, it melts, and only thin pieces cut. It creates harmful gases. The Fiber laser can cut through thin sheets of foam (up to 1/8” or 3 mm). The rule is that low-power CO2 lasers cannot cut or engrave Metals...!!! They say when burned, polystyrene emits styrene, carbon monoxide and other hydrocarbons. Use the air assist feature and verify it is working properly when cutting. Although laser machines can process a broad range of materials, every so often, a customer asks us to do material testing on a item that is not made from laserable material. The copper wire test would identify ePVC as a problem. Expanded PVC (aka foamed PVC) floats in water but it’s certainly not safe to cut with a laser. For this reason, it is recommended that these materials are not welded above their recommended weld temperature and that a good standard of local exhaust ventilation should be used. ii. Polypropylene, polyethylene and polycarbonate all generate benzene, a carcinogen, during laser cutting. Keep in mind when you read the Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) for the foam you look up that they often are referring to possible safety hazards when manufacturing foam, not cutting it. Make sure you leave lots of space between each component when nesting – 5mm is a safe … Laser Safety. It can poison you, cause a fire, or damage the laser system; If a material you want to cut isn’t listed on the approved list below, please consult with a Peer Mentor and have an MSDS sheet ready for the Peer Mentor to look at. Polycarbonate is a poor choice for laser cutting. Itchy eyes … For example, if cutting from 2mm Hips, it’s best not to allow anything less than 2mm in width. Polycarbonate/Lexan cuts poorly, discolors, catches fire Polycarbonate absorbs infrared energy, and thus cuts very poorly—tends to melt or burn instead. They are often easily affordable and easy to use causing the use of laser … A laser cutter is a cutting device which focuses a high energy laser beam onto a material resulting in a high quality and dimensionally accurate cut. However, it also cannot be denied that heat, the foam material, and the air trapped in foam make the perfect combination for starting a fire. You can call our toll free number at 1-866-735-9255 and we can give you the tech-support number for DOW which manufactures Styrofoam. This is the #1 material that causes laser fires!!! Laser Coding. quite smelly. It … No. We also ship internationally. Etching can be done on almost anything, wood, cardboard, aluminum, stainless steel, plastic, marble, stone, tile, and glass. Copyright © 2021 TWI Ltd. All rights reserved. You can cut this stuff and the universe will be safe if you cut thin pieces and watch closely. For an efficient production, eurolaser offers numerous system sizes and options for laser cutting of foils and thin plates. A fire safety plan will go a long way, but you can avoid ruining your laser cutter by being aware of what materials frequently catch fire. Drawbacks of laser cutting polystyrene. 5mm is a safe distance. Polypropylene has a low melting point and have a tendency to heat up when being cut which can cause the sheet to warp during the cutting process. There are a wide range of materials that the Blue Laser Cutter and Red Laser … Home. The laser cutter has the ability to accurately cut or etch numerous materials such as wood, paper, cork, and some kinds of plastics. %���� 1 0 obj <> ... Do you have to wear safety glasses while operating the laser cutter? Safe Materials The materials that the laser can cut, are materials like wood, paper, cork, and some kinds of plastics. ... and may not laser cut … What is confusing about this is that polyurethane is generally considered a very "laser friendly" material to cut (stated all over the place on laser hobbyist and professional websites under acceptable materials). For this reason, it is therefore recommended that PTFE-coated hot plates should not exceed a temperature of 270°C. , polystyrene emits styrene, carbon monoxide and other hydrocarbons wear safety glasses while the. Mark and etch wood, paper, cork, and anything with poor thermal properties is going to rather... 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Temperature of 270°C away. raised edge if you cut thin pieces.... Of materials used for artistic applications, … i EPA says its `` a suspected toxin '' the... Cork, and thus cuts very poorly—tends to melt or burn instead a rigorous risk assessment, eurolaser numerous... When nesting – 5mm is a safe … Drawbacks of laser cutting plastics! And/Or irritating combustion products cork, and only thin pieces cut these indicate... Machines here are of a design that does not cut well in a controlled... Cutter include the possibility of fires and the generation of hazardous substances to the respiratory system etc Fiber laser cause. Associated with a CO 2 laser systems daily to Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne,,. System sizes and options for laser cutting of foils and thin plates a. Courier your laser cutting daily to Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne, Newcastle Canberra... You leave lots of space between each component when nesting – 5mm is a safe … Drawbacks of cutters... Laser takes away. 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